Assisted Living Communities in Fairfax, Virginia

According to the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, assisted living facilities in Fairfax charge around $7,348 per month, which tracks above the state norm of $6,050 and surpasses rates in many nearby cities. In Richmond, seniors pay about $5,701, and facilities in Harrisonburg charge even lower fees of roughly $3,725.

Fairfax has above-average assisted living rates, which is in keeping with other cities within the Washington D.C. area. Its median fee is $5,948 per month, which is significantly more than Virginia’s $5,250 and the national average of $4,500. 

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Virginia page.

Assisted living residents in the Fairfax region pay around $7,348 monthly. This rate exceeds typical costs for home-based solutions, with agencies charging about $5,911 for in-home care and roughly $6,292 for home health care. While seniors who attend adult day health care pay substantially lower rates of around $2,275, nursing home fees exceed assisted living costs at roughly $12,623 for shared accommodations.

To legally operate in Virginia, an assisted living facility must be licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services and its administrator separately licensed by the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators. Licensed facilities must comply with strict guidelines relating to resident health and safety, fire safety, insurance and staff-to-resident ratios relevant to their building design and maximum occupancy.

• Property crime in Fairfax is slightly more common than normal for Virginia, but it’s below the national average. However, crimes of violence are significantly less frequent when compared to the state and U.S. averages. The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Fairfax is 1 in 1,207, compared to Virginia’s 1 in 482.
• Fairfax has an average cost of living index of 152, which is considerably higher than Virginia’s 103.7. However, the index is skewed by housing costs, which, in the Washington D.C. area, are almost double Virginia’s average. When comparing costs more likely to affect seniors in assisted living, the differences sometimes flip. For example, the average health cost index for Fairfax is 99.9, while Virginia’s is 102.4.
• Seniors who enjoy four seasons will appreciate Fairfax’s climate. January’s temperatures are usually around a chilly 24 degrees, and July’s are a comfortably warm 86 degrees. Consequently, residents aren’t subjected to temperature extremes and don’t need to be too concerned about other undesirable weather features, such as hurricanes. Snowfall is below average, but rainfall is slightly more than normal.
• Fairfax’s average health cost index is an admirable 94.6, which is better than the national median of 100. Water and air quality are below average, but other factors compensate, such as the city’s excellent work within the EPA’s Superfund program to clean up contaminated land.
• Fastran is a transportation service that serves the needs of Fairfax residents who benefit from human services agency programs, such as Medicaid. The service can also transport passengers to and from seniors centers within Fairfax County. Because fees are based on a sliding scale, the senior’s income will determine the cost per trip. 
• In addition to being within 30 minutes of some of the country’s finest hospitals in Washington D.C., Fairfax seniors also have well-regarded facilities closer to home. Inova Fairfax Hospital and Emergency Room specializes in many areas of medicine, including heart and vascular conditions and cancer care.